This Britpop band has had plenty of sad songs.
- "This Is a Low" is the near closer of Parklife, followed by only a wacky "instrumental"note , but the impact it delivers is unique. Albarn's harrowing performance makes the song heart-wrenching and at the same time epic:"This is a low, but it won't hurt you
When you're alone, it will be there with you
Finding ways to stay solo" - "No Distance Left to Run" is THE Break-Up Song. A tranquil tone designed to end 13 sets the mood to an anguished Albarn singing about his farewell to his girlfriend.
- Extra points for this being the song that forced Albarn to accept the end of his relationship in order to exist. He hates the song to this day due to this.
- The biggest punch here is that Albarn was not the only one affected by the breakup; Justine Frischmann saw Albarn perform it live on Jools Holland's show, barely keeping himself together while performing it... and she broke down in tears. She then remarked that, had Albarn put the same effort on their relationship he put into that song, they'd still be together. Ouch.
- "Yuko and Hiro" is one of the band's most gut-wrenchingly sad songs, following a Japanese worker being forced to work ridiculously long hours and not being able to spend time with his loved ones as a result.
- Dear lord, "Sweet Song". Especially because it was on Think Tank, during Graham's departure from the band- Damon had written the song after looking at a photo of him. The only way to make the song even more emotional is to listen to it whilst looking at the gorgeous album artwork done by
Banksy. - "Tender", even more so when noting how the band continued to play the song live during Graham's absence; at Reading Festival 2003, Damon gave the song a very heartfelt introduction and the crowd sung Graham's lines instead."I don't want, for one moment, to be a sentimental but... Graham wrote this song as well... you know the bits he sings and I want you to sing them as loudly as you possibly can. Everyone needs to sing this song."
- "Sing" is about depression, and it is very upsetting.
- "Birthday" is especially upsetting for those who have been alone or forgotten on their special day.
- Even more so when you realise it's possible that the song was written because at least one of the four members felt like that on their own birthday.
- "Caramel" is as heart-wrenching as is bizarre. Not surprising, as it belongs to 13, Blur's darkest album, fueled by Albarn's recent break-up with Justine Frischmann from Elastica. 'Caramel' sounds like a Survival Mantra of someone at the end of depression.
- "1992", from the same album, is also very sad. Sounding similar to "Sing" from the first album contributes to this as well.
- "Me, White Noise," both the original and the alternate versions. The original version functions both as a sarcastic, angry rant about the ills of life and society, and a monotone Madness Mantra, while the alternate version both reads and sounds like a person genuinely on the verge of a self-hating breakdown.And you trip over yourself, and you think to yourself
Why am I here?
I'm here because I've got no fucking choice! - The Magic Whip gives us, among others, "Pyongyang". It's just as much of a downer as the title (the capital of North Korea) suggests.
